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Don't ask for whom the doorbell tolls. The answer is probably in a text

Back in the day (which was just a few years ago), people would ring a doorbell or knock to announce their arrival at your house. They'd stand patiently until you let them in.

The doorbell doesn’t toll for many these days.

I get texts from delivery services to let me know a package or food has arrived.

Has ringing a doorbell or knocking really become as outmoded as leaving a voicemail these days? Only elderly relatives, sales people and con artists do that.

Fallon contends texting is more polite than ringing the doorbell. It gives you a heads-up if you're in the bathroom or need to put on pants. It doesn’t disrupt the household, wake anyone or set the dog barking.

Fallon thinks we should bring door knockers back. She’d use one of those. It would be a powerful way to announce her arrival rather than some insidious doorbell chime.

Besides, she pointed out, we don’t even have a doorbell anymore.

Oh.

You could knock, I suggested.

“We are resigned to using our knuckles like, what?" she asked. "Cavemen?”